North of Banbury

 Today's Canal - Oxford

The forecast for today was that it would generally be cloudy but with an hour of sunshine around 10. 

However, as we set off just after 8.15, the cloud was already beginning to break and it felt much warmer that the last few days.

After almost an hour cruising through Somerton Meadows, we arrived at the Deep Lock. We had read of difficulties with this lock in the past couple of weeks, the bottom gate not opening fully and boat becoming stuck. However, a boat had just gone through a head of us so we were hopeful.

From a distance it is possible to see what appears to be a small window high up on the end wall. Was it to allow the lock keeper to see boats coming from a distance? However, a closer look as in the photo above reveals that it is actually a fake and it does not look as if it ever was a window. In any case, it would only be possible to see through it from the attic

On the ground floor there is a real lookout window.From this boats at a distance coming under the previous bridge could be spotted although the lock bridge obscures those just below the lock. However, by the time boats were that close the keeper should have already been by the lock side.

After Mike had emptied the lock Christine started to bring the boat under the bridge and into the lock. Alas, we too became stuck but at the fifth attempt we just squeezed in.

Not long after the pure blue sky arrived on schedule and layers of clothing could be discarded.

At Bridge 192 a large herd of cows were making their way - slowly - across from the farm into the field, ready for a hard day's work chewing grass and making milk!

By the time we arrived at Aynho Weir Lock we found that queues were building up and for the rest of the day we had to wait several turns. Not all boats coming the other way helped to speed our passage (LTRU) But at least in most cases the wait enabled interesting chats with other boaters.

Grants Lock was the last before lunch and we had been warned that it was another that created difficulties by not opening fully. We did manage it but very slowly and with a lot of throttle. Above the lock we moored for lunch.

Just before setting off again we could see a couple of CaRT staff at the lock, probing around the bottom gate with a keb. Mike wanted a photo that he missed on the way up so wandered back to take a look. They had received reports yesterday and today about the problem so were sent to look. As expected there was no obvious obstruction but what felt like a significant build up of silt. A keb does not shift it easily! Mike also told them about our earlier problem at Somerton Deep. They relied that a team had been out a few days ago and thought that they ha cleared it. They also mentioned Roundham Lock, near the end of the Oxford Canal, where we had had problems on Sunday. Again a team had been lout and had pulled a tyre out of the top ground paddle (which was why it would not shut properly) They also said that the bottom gate that is in such a st\ate is due to be replaced in November.

We continued on into Banbury and stopped at Samuelson Bridge so that we could walk across to Morrisons to get enough to last us until Leamington Spa.

Next stop was at the service block just below Banbury Lock in the town centre (adjacent to the bus station that Mike passed through yesterday). From there we managed as far as the northern edge of town when we found a possible mooring, away from the main roads (previous option) or the railway and motorway (next option) After that our guides do not indicate much for some while, nor did our recollection from the way down. We took the easy option. but there was only enough armco for half the boat length, meaning that we had to use a pin at the bow. The ground proved rather soft and so Mike deployed an extra spring rope with a second pin. There were still plenty of boats pressing on through so the mooring arrangement will have had a thorough test.

2.4 Miles - 6 Locks